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Step 1 Draft the By-Law

Using DIY By-Laws you can easily add your lot details, select what areas you are renovating and attach the relevant plans to create a by-law and motion instantly! Your by-law will describe any impact there may be to common property (for example, waterproofing in bathroom, moving plumbing or external walls).

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Step 2 Before the Meeting

You will now need to give your draft by-law and consent form to your strata manager to be included in the agenda for the next annual general meeting. If there is not one coming up anytime soon, ask your strata manager the fee to call a meeting.

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Step 3 The Agenda

The strata manager will attach your motion to the agenda and be sent out to owners in your strata scheme 21 days before the meeting.

Make sure you have also given your consent form to the strata manager before the meeting.

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Step 4 The General Meeting

Your motion will be discussed at the AGM and details will be reviewed. Then a vote will be taken by all owners attending (and via proxy) the AGM on your motion. This will be specially resolved and you will get approval or could be asked to provide changes or more detail. A majority vote will get this approved.

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Step 5 Consolidation

Once this has been resolved, the new by-law needs to be added to full list of by-laws, thereby consolidating the new one with the existing by-laws.

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DIY By-Laws can assist you with this step too!

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Step 6 Registration

The new by-law must be registered with Land Registry Services within 6 months.

A lawyer, your strata manager or DIY By-Laws can also assist you with this step.

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Step 7 Start Your Renovation!

Now that you have completed all the necessary steps you can start your renovations.

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What do I own and what is common property?

Categories: Common Property

What is Lot and Common Property?

The important question of who owns what needs to be established, as the answer will dictate how a strata scheme is correctly managed and who is responsible for what parts of a strata scheme.
Common property is the responsibility of the owners’ corporation, and Lot property is the responsibility of the lot owner.
The picture below is an extract from a typical strata plan. The strata plan does not tell you all of the details about what is common property and what is lot property. Further details are described by the relevant legislation and case law.

General position (subject to exceptions)

As a guide, the general rules applicable to the majority of strata schemes registered after 1 July 1974 are:

  • The structures located on the solid thick line at the registration of the strata plan are common property.
  • The ceiling, the structure of the floor including fixed tiles or floorboards, the electrical wiring located in the ceiling, external windows and balcony doors are usually all items of common property.
  • Internal walls, not shown on a strata plan are lot property and a structure located on a thin line is usually lot property.
  • Carpet, light fittings, blinds, curtains, toilet bowls, bathtubs and kitchen cupboards will all usually be lot property and the responsibility of a lot owner.

Exceptions

The following exceptions to the general position apply:

  • The general position does not apply to strata plans registered before July 1974.
  • To a limited extent, notations on the strata plan can modify the general position.
  • Owners or owners corporations can with proper approval alter, add to or remove common property after the registration of the plan.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer so if in doubt, ask an expert to work it out.

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